The Collected Letters, Volume 23

Mr. W. M'Call,1 whom perhaps you have otherwise heard of, has something on the anvil which he thinks may suit Fraser's Magazine.2 I do not know what the present piece of writing is, nor what others the author may have in his head with that view; but I
am very anxious that whenever he may present himself with a sample of his produce, you would give him and it a patient, candid,
and more than usually careful examination. Unless I mistake much, Mr. M'Call must have a decided power of writing too, were
he once put upon the way,—which indeed is not always an easy process for one like him. He is clearly a man of much worth;
of many energies and talents, which ought to bear good fruit in the world one day. I hope to do perhaps a mutual service in
bringing him to you, and putting good theory in contact with good practice in this manner.3

1. William Maccall (1812–88; ODNB), author; M.A., 1833, Glasgow; studied at Geneva for two years with view toward the Presbyterian ministry, but became a Unitarian; was a Unitarian
minister in Lancashire and Devon, 1837–46; m., 1842, Alice Haselden of Bolton; came to London, 1846, where he preached (but had no congregation of his own), lectured, and wrote for the press; became a friend of J. S. Mill
and TC; pbd. many books. See K. J. Fielding, “Carlyle, Charles Dickens, and William Maccall,” Notes and Queries n.s. 1 (1954):488–90.

2. His article on Joseph de Maistre (1753–1821), French philosopher, conservative statesman, and man of letters, appeared in Fraser's Magazine 39 (April 1849):383–96.

3. John Sterling had met Maccall, 1842, and given him a letter of intro. to TC, whom he did not meet till a party given by John Chapman for Emerson (presumably
on 29 June; see Rusk 4:94). At the time Maccall was, according to JWC, “within sight of starvation.” See Espinasse 247–55 and Wilson,
Carlyle 4:65–67.